The Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) Data System is the national repository for EPA air pollution data. It provides access to air quality data collected at outdoor monitors across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, primarily sourced from the Air Quality System (AQS) database. The AirData program offers tools for downloading data, generating reports, creating visualizations, and exploring monitor locations.
Use Cases
- Analyze annual unhealthy air quality days per county based on county-level data mentioned in the description
- Investigate spatial patterns of pollution using the interactive map tool for monitor locations
- Create graphical displays of pollutant trends over time using the visualization tools
- Generate standard reports for regulatory compliance or research based on the report output feature
Strengths
- Data is collected from a national network of outdoor monitors across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- The data system is the official national repository for EPA air pollution data.
- The AirData program provides multiple access methods including downloads, reports, visualizations, and an interactive map.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
Provenance
- Source
- AirData Program, EPA
- Collection Method
- Primarily from the Air Quality System (AQS) database.
- Geography
- United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.